Small time town with big time drama.
Chapter 13
Sometimes Alec was almost too high maintenance. But today Cullen had to admit the punishment for Alec was too juicy not to share with his friends. He took the snapshot of Alec hoeing Eli’s garden. It wouldn’t be as spicy if the damn thing wasn’t the size of a lot of lawns in town. He was halfway down the first row when he stopped, leaned against the hoe, and mopped his brow as he surveyed the expanse of tilled soil with its rows of sprouting greenery. Alec fished a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped the sweat from his face. After a few seconds, he turned to Cullen.
“You get this thing any bigger you’re going to need a tractor to till it up,” Alec said.
Cullen chuckled as his eyes swept the farm, he realized Eli used every inch of his land to keep himself in business. But he knew Alec would never understand that mentality, so he didn’t explain. He gave Alec a reply though.
“Eli doesn’t want to depend on anyone other than himself. Sometimes I’m surprised he spends the money at the cafe. But I think he sees it more as a news delivery app.”
They both chuckled again when they heard.
“Did I miss the joke—or am I the butt of it?”
Cullen made a motion of dismissal and his grin got even wider. “Don’t worry about it. There was nothing bad.” He motioned to the growing plants. “What do you think? I think it’s going pretty well.”
Eli nodded and walked out into the feather soft soil. He knelt down and brushed aside the small hammocks of green. A second later he turned back.
“They look amazing. This is the best garden I’ve ever had since moving out here to no-man’s-land.”
Cullen chuckled and motioned at Alec. “Have him uninterrupted morning make out and I’ll have the most weed free beds you’ve ever seen.”
Eli shook his head. “We really need to find Alec a boyfriend… or a girlfriend… hell, if we could find him a cooperative ewe, I’d be happy.”
“First, Eww about your last suggestion and poor sheep. But I’m completely counting out the other two. But have you got any ideas?”
Eli stared at Cullen for a minute then turned back to Alec. “You know, the Freedom Rodeo and street dance is coming up in a few weeks. It draws people from all over. It’s not like Alec has cooties or something. Surely we could get him hooked up. Don’t they say there’s someone for everybody?”
Cullen chuckled and shook his head. “I didn’t know anyone used the word cootie when they were older than ten.” He stood chuckling for a few seconds when Alec spotted them and made his way across the garden to them. When he saw they were looking at him, he gave them a lopsided grin and sped up to a trot.
Cullen muttered to Eli. “When is the rodeo?”
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Jon L Keys 